After being named the Michigan Wolverines head coach, Kyle Whittingham was excited to develop sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood. So, much of the spring game discussion surrounded Underwood. But Whittingham raised concerns about the quarterback. 

“First of all, Bryce was thrown into a pretty tough situation last fall — a true freshman, 18 years old, starting quarterback at not only a P4 program but Michigan,” said Whittingham on The Blueprint podcast. “You’re under the spotlight, also didn’t have a dedicated quarterbacks coach last year. So, he was a little rough around the edges, still is a little bit.”

So, the head coach is not doubting Underwood’s talent. But he is concerned about how his talent is still raw and unpolished. The quarterback frequently moved around too much last season, which often resulted in errant throws or leaving the pocket earlier than necessary.

Whittingham’s concerns arose after Underwood’s performance in this year’s spring game on April 18. He managed only 22 yards on 3-of-9 passing. Underwood was also sacked twice despite operating in a heavily protected system.

The fact that the inconsistency still remains is concerning for Whittingham's program.

Last season, Underwood’s consistency had taken a backseat. He featured flashes of brilliance as both a runner and passer. At times, his athleticism made him the most dynamic player on the field. He stood out while firing rail shots and connecting deep passes.

But there were moments when he looked uneasy. For instance, in the 27-9 defeat to the Ohio State Buckeyes, he went 8-for-18 for 63 yards.

During the game, the quarterback appeared uneasy in the pocket, overthrowing two deep balls and attempting a few dangerous throws across the middle.

While Underwood still has a lot to improve, he already holds Whittingham’s trust. 

Kyle Whittingham on Bryce Underwood as the Michigan Wolverines QB1

This off-season, Whittingham and his staff praised Tommy Carr highly. The head coach even said that the freshman quarterback plays “much more mature than his years” in his interview with On3’s Chris Low. 

During the spring games, the grandson of Lloyd Carr went 6-of-11 for 39 yards in the air while rushing for 42 yards. The four-star prospect stood out with his dual-threat ability and ran the offense with ease. 

Despite Carr's strong spring showing, Whittingham saw Underwood as the starting quarterback for the 2026 season. 

“Competition’s always a good thing, but Bryce is our guy right now,” Whittingham told Big Ten Network after the spring game. “He’s a guy that’s got a ton of upside. We believe Tommy does, too. But coming out of spring, Bryce is obviously going to be No. 1.”

Whittingham noted that Michigan is still in the early stages of building the offense and plans to refine it over time around Underwood’s strengths.

His running ability, for instance, is a key part of his game that remained mostly hidden during the spring game because quarterbacks were off-limits to tacklers.

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Written by

Soheli Tarafdar

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar